Australian boxing fans are hopeful Jeff ‘The Hornet’ Horn will be able to produce another shock victory despite being a rank outsider against American Terence Crawford.
Horn will defend his WBO welterweight world title against Crawford at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The Queenslander is expected to lose the belt to Crawford despite being the defending champion.
Crawford, 30, is in the prime of his career and is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Australian boxing fans are hopeful Jeff ‘The Hornet’ Horn will be able to produce another shock victory despite being a rank outsider against American Terence Crawford
Horn will defend his WBO welterweight world title against Crawford at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday
Crawford, 30, is in the prime of his career and is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world
Known as ‘Bud’, Crawford is undefeated in 32 fights, winning 23 of those by knockout.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Crawford was raised among violence – once driving himself to hospital after being shot in the head by a gang member.
Crawford is known for his punching speed in the ring and his ability to switch hit, changing from orthodox to southpaw.
He was named Fighter of the year by ESPN in 2014 and 2017,
Crawford’s trainer Brian McIntyre told ESPN Crawford is a ‘kind dude – but he be wanting to hurt [people]’.
During training for the fight, Crawford said he planned to ‘knock Horn’s a** clean the f**k out’.
The boxer said growing up he was often physically punished by his mother, being hit with belts, sticks, extension cords and tree branches.
‘My pain tolerance went up… It came to the point where it built toughness,’ he said.
Crawford is known for his punching speed in the ring and his ability to switch hit, changing from orthodox to southpaw
The father-of-five was jailed in 2016 after arguing with a mechanic about the cost of car repairs.
Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton was full of praise for Crawford ahead of the fight.
‘He is a very crafty, multi-skilled individual. He’s a good counter-puncher, good attacker,’ he told the ABC.
Rushton said he is confident the plan he devised for Horn will allow him to win the fight.
‘There are no major weaknesses but you never do everything well… if we can direct Jeff’s strength to his weakest link, that will help us to a victory.’
Horn will defend the belt he won by defeating Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane in July 2017.
Horn (picutred with wife Joanna and daughter Isabelle) will fight Crawford at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas